Prediction of persistent microalbuminuria in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Abstract

Persistent microalbuminuria [albumin excretion rate (AER): 30-300 micrograms/min] is predictive of clinical nephropathy in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and cardiovascular mortality in addition to nephropathy in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes. The clinical significance of intermittent microalbuminuria, however, is unknown. We performed serial measurements of urinary albumin excretion at intervals of approximately 6 months in 139 diabetic patients who at entry did not have persistent microalbuminuria to determine whether intermittent microalbuminuria occurs more frequently in those patients who subsequently develop persistent microalbuminuria. The rela..